The story behind the photos!

So I recently uploaded some photo's to facebook and I wanted a chance to tell the story. The photo's dont seem to want to cooperate with my blog however. But thats okay, you just work with what you have right?! :)

So here's the deal...

Last month I went with one of my best friends Juan Juan (yes, she is Chinese! ha) to the photo shop where SHE was supposed to be choosing the photo's she was going to have done. Well of coarse me being there to HELP HER turned into the stores owner insisting I have a session as well. I was a little skeptical knowing I am by no means a model nor natural in front of the camera. But they convinced me. So their best photographer who had studied in Beijing set it up with me to take the photo's. I was told he is a big deal here in Huangshi because he studied in such a large more western influenced city. So they were all excited. ha.

On the day scheduled I went in around 1pm and left around 9:30pm. It was the whole thing, hair, makeup and they choose my ensembles. That part was a lot of fun! But as you can imagine it was exhausting! I had a really great time with the photographer and all the people who work in the shop. They were entertained by my limited use of Chinese and I loved their attempts at english. They even had some american jams playing through the shop while I was having my pictures taken. It was hilarious, singing and dancing around with them. Seeing as I am not natural in front of a camera at all you can imagine the complications to begin with, add communication barriers in there and you have an entertaining evening full of lots of gestures and motions. :) I was so grateful for my friend Juan Juan who stayed with me the whole time and helped translate and support me. She really is amazing!! I went in with my own ideas of what I was thinking and wanting but like anything here in China the photographer did too and he was certain his ideas were better. So being flexible I just went with it and let him do his thing and they turned out great!

Whats funny is afterwards I had so much more of an appreciation for people who ARE gifted and talented in this way! It was NOT easy!

I really have been so blessed with some really fun exciting things to add to my life experiences in the past 7 months! Who would have thought?!

Another update on Huangshi and life in China coming soon!!